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Abstract

Energy law is gaining prominence among legal subjects. In the three spheres of academic, professional and public life, there is an increasing realization of the potential importance of energy law. The underlying objective of this paper is to contribute to the creation of a theory of energy law through advancing what this should encompass. Energy law has addressed particular issues in the energy sector but it has not had a holistic view of the sector, in particular, concerning the issue of energy waste management, which remains a serious problem. The conditions for a more holistic approach to manage energy resources are emerging and in the future it may be expected that energy law will have a core theoretical framework. This framework is important as it will in essence provide energy law with a ‘spirit’ or a raison d’être. The theory proposed here is on the Evolution of Energy Law and the centre-point of this theoretical perspective is that to-date there have been Five Stages in the Evolution of Energy Law. In understanding what have been the key stages (or drivers) in the development of energy law it will give the energy law scholar an understanding of the motivation(s) behind the formulation of energy law.